Financial Disclosures

Financial Documents and Disclosures

Citizens’ Climate Education (CCE) is supported by major donors who give $1,000 or more in a given year, regular donations of less than $1,000, and foundations. While the precise proportions vary, for the past three years support has come from approximately 50% major donors, 25% foundations, and 25% regular donations.

In 2017, CCE’s $3.8 million budget supported 30 regular staff members and 22 contract employees, who together shared responsibility for the training and empowerment of the organization’s 92,000 supporters. It also provided support for two annual conferences in Washington, D.C. and 13 regional conferences across the United States, and office space in Coronado, California. Although CCE is legally permitted to engage in direct lobbying, all lobbying and related spending is the responsibility of its 501(c)(4) sister organization Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

In keeping with its non-partisan commitments, CCE will not accept donations from individuals engaged in intensely partisan actions on either side of the political aisle—and has, in fact, respectfully declined donations from such figures in the past. Any exception would have to be matched by an equal donation from a partnered citizen on the other side of the political spectrum, consistent with CCE’s view that concern for the climate should know no partisan boundaries.

Major past and present foundation supporters include the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the David Rockefeller Fund, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, and the Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation.

CCE’s commitment to transparency is reflected by its Guidestar Gold status, and by the public accessibility of its form 990s. (Note: Recognition from Charity Navigator requires a longer record of full-form 990s than CCE, which filed using form 990EZ for its first several years, yet possesses; we will be able to apply for Charity Navigator review in 2019).

CCE overhead averages a low 14-16%. This includes all fundraising costs, which varied from 6-8% between 2014 and 2016.